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Caren's Creative Canvas & Craft

Caren's Creative Canvas & Craft

Category Archives: Soft animals

Me and my new Friends

19 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by carentaylor in Soft animals

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Best Friends forever, Giraffe, Sale bargains, Soft toys, Unicorn, Weimaraner and New toys

Peppy and new toys 190116 (4-1)

OMGoodness!!!!!! Look what mum brought back from her bargain sale shopping spree today………..A super soft Giraffe and a Pink fluffy Unicorn… JUST FOR ME  😀  I was so excited I insisted on a BFF photo  ❤  ❤  ❤

When mum went shopping this morning, I sloped off into my bed to wait, having no idea what she would return with??? When she came back later, laden with carrier bags …my eyes were drawn instantly to the one overstuffed bag, which had four fluffy legs flailing from the top , as she set them down on the worktop, my excited squeaking couldn’t be contained. nor could my wagging tail!! I just knew it was something for me ;-D After all, I’ve never seen her put a thing like that into the fridge or cupboard before!!

After being introduced, first to my new Unicorn friend, then Giraffe, I was even more surprised to get…..a new tennis ball too YAY :-D….. though, for some reason it gave me ‘restless leg syndrome’ ;-/ After almost an hour of trotting back and forth around the house with it in my mouth, mum decided to remove it, for some peace and quiet 😦 I suppose there is only so much trit-trotting she can put up with, listening to my eight excited claws pacing over wooden and tiled floors?! Still, I have my new friends, I did wonder if my two ‘big doggies’ could be in on the picture???..and searched  for them everywhere???….but, mum tells me, they  suddenly left on a bin vacation ;-/

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Fun fabric fishy friends!

02 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by carentaylor in Soft animals

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Art, Artistic, Arty, Caren's canvas and craft, Colouful creations, Colourful threads, Cotton print fabric, Crafty creations, Creating my own patterns, Creative crafting, Cute creations, Decorative fish, Fabric fish, Fabric seahorse, Fabric starfish, Fishy friends, Fun creations, Fun fabric fishy friends, Fun with fabrics, Hanging decorations, My Etsy Shop, Original, Patchwork cotton fabrics, Ribbons, Synthetic wadding, Tiny beads

Fun fabric fishy friends!

Fun fabric fishy friends!

It would seem I have been away from posting forever! I have been super busy over the past few weeks creating and working on a couple of commissioned lap quilts – more on those in a few days – when they arrive at their new homes!:-)

Anyway, in between, I have been using up small fabric pieces I had left over, to create a trio of cute characters, as you see I called them ‘fishy friends’. Having drawn my own templates for the little sea creatures I set to snipping, sewing and stuffing them all. I think they are… Soooo cute! Perfect for brightening up just about anywhere as little hanging decorations! Even my husband has ear marked a set for his work van! Should be a good talking point for all the builders when they see them!!! But at least it has sorted out what he is having for a birthday present now! 😉

As ever, I couldn’t help myself – so I made a few more sets 🙂

 

 

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Hmmm…Pillow Pals…Did I mention I might make……. a couple more?!? Clearly, I never know when to stop…

04 Sunday May 2014

Posted by carentaylor in Buttoncraft, Soft animals

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Art, Artistic moment, Arty, Button face pillow pals, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Crafting with buttons, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Cute cushion creations, Cute fun cushion characters, Designed and handmade creations, Fun with fabric, Handmade original unique, Mini feature cushions, Mini feature pillows, Original, Pillow pals, Pocket sized pillow pals, Quirky fun designs

Little lilac pretty princess pillow pal

Little lilac pretty princess pillow pal

A few more unique Pillow pals! I have been having so much fun making these cute character cushions, but, as I have now finished this little batch I thought I would share their group photo and a couple of close ups too! Notice they are all on their best behaviour! Shot taken before the party started!!!

 

I think love is in the air between Mr. Red Gingham Tie and little Miss Red Floral on high! A definite lovestruck gaze!

I think love is in the air between Mr. Red Gingham Tie and little Miss Red Floral on high! A definite lovestruck gaze! Mr. Brown Checks looking cool in his coordinating button top hat too!

OOO! I feel so pretty!

OOO! I feel so pretty!

A close up of what love can do to you!

A close up of what love can do to you! Taking blushing to the extreme

Super smart Pillow Pal

Super smart Pillow Pal

I know he was eyeing up the other red one...it should have been ME!

I know he was eyeing up the other red one…it should have been ME!

The after party sleepover OR  recovery position! Though, it looks like a few partied on too!

The after party sleepover OR recovery position! Though, it looks like a couple of plaid pals partied on!

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Cute and cuddly crafty creations! Designed by myself especially for iarxiv – ”Piggy & Puggy”

09 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by carentaylor in Personalised, Soft animals

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Art, Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Arty, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Custom made orders, Cute creations in fabric craft, Cute piggies, Designed and handmade creations, Handmade Fabric piglets, Handmade soft animals, iarxiv's characters, iarxiv's characters Piggy and Puggy, My Etsy Shop, Original, Original ideas, Original patterns, Patchwork pillow covers, Patchwork Quilting Applique, Piggy and Puggy

 

Designed and specially created by myself for iarxiv, Her two cute and cuddly characters, ‘Piggy’ and ‘Puggy’!

Quite recently I got an enquiry from one of the blogs that I follow (and vice versa) about the possibility of a custom made pair of soft piggies. Immediately, I was very excited! Not only that I would be able to create cute cuddly characters, but really really very special characters.

Iarxiv, who has created the adorable, Epic Porcine Adventure of ”Piggy and Puggy”, a long running tale of the worldwide adventures and experiences about two, extremely intelligent, special little piglets. As piglets they were take in by a human couple they call ”two legged mummy and daddy”, who both realised immediately they were more than your average pigs! Mummy and daddy allowed their piglets to travel the world keeping in touch by ‘snoutphone’

Over the last year, the brave piggies have just about been to every corner of the earth,  meeting lots of other characters, seeing how they live their lives, endured dangers and sometimes overwhelming excitement, suffered separation and eventually fallen in love, and have recently become engaged, Puggy gave Piggy a little ‘hooflet’ to wear on her left trotter…Sooooo sweet 🙂 !

Having followed the epic adventures since almost the very beginning (and iarxiv was my very first follower when I joined in January 2013) it seemed like a magical moment. After a little brief,  iarxiv asked for a little pair of fabric piggies sitting on flat bottoms, snout to snout with interlocking hooves, something along the lines of http://iarxiv.com/2013/12/10/yes-yes-yes/,  if it was possible to do. A creative challenge, what more could I ask for!?! 🙂

After making a little pattern for the piggies, I chose a delicate little floral print on a pale pink cotton for Piggy and a more ‘boar’some tiny brown check print fabric for Puggy and set to creating the little characters. Giving them both a pose-able curly tail. (I swear it took longer to turn those two little tails by pins, than it did to make the the pattern and the pigs themselves, but after the pipe cleaner was in place all was worth the effort) Once filled with synthetic wadding I blanket stitched a coordinating flat fabric base, allowing them to sit leaning snout to snout and cleverly grasp each other with my design for interlocking trotters/hooves. They are so cute! As a finishing touch I gave Piggy a little pink bow for her head (At first the pink one I gave her – as in the picture below – was somewhat overwhelmingly pink, so another less intense pink satin ribbon was decided upon) A little creamy/white engagement ‘hooflet’ for her left hoof and a little mustard ribbon tie for Puggy. With their ears flapped upwards through sheer delight, I do believe I have fulfilled my brief……..I’m so very happy………….But, will iarxiv be as happy with her custom order when they arrive, I wondered?

I had no need to worry, for along with many other very kind comments iarxiv said,

”They are absolutely gorgeous little creatures.”

Below are some more pictures of designs for iarxiv, I do believe, a VERY happy customer!

AND may I Thank You iarxiv, for allowing me the privilege to be able to bring to life, in a physical 3D form your adorable Piggy and Puggy now in their forever, loving home with their very own ”two legged mummy and daddy”!

Designed and specially created by myself for iarxiv, Her two cute and cuddly characters, 'Piggy' and 'Puggy'

Designed and specially created by myself for iarxiv, Her two cute and cuddly characters, ‘Piggy’ and ‘Puggy’
Designed and created by me for iarxiv, A quilted patchwork pillow cover of iarxiv's characters, ''Puggy & Piggy''

Designed and created by me for iarxiv, A quilted patchwork pillow cover of iarxiv’s characters, ”Puggy & Piggy”

 

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Decorative soft animal – Bunny knitting

22 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by carentaylor in Soft animals

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Art, Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Arty, Beads, Buttons, Crafty creations, Creative craft ideas, Decorative knitting bunny, Green cotton print fabric, Handmade and designed items, Handmade floral bunny, Knitting bag, Knitting on toothpicks, Lace trim, Original, Original art, Original craft ideas, Pompom tail, Quirky creations, Satin ribbon bow

Oh Dear! and I thought I had got over the Bunny thing!! Obviously not!!! In between making fun fabric collages I got the unstoppable urge to make a little floral bunny - not just a decorative bunny - but a bunny knitting!!!

Oh Dear! and I thought I had got over the Bunny thing!! Obviously not!!! In between making fun fabric collages I got the unstoppable urge to make a little floral bunny – not just a decorative bunny – but a bunny knitting!!!

Its a little green flower power bunny, designed and handmade, complete with its own knitting bag and a half knitted scarf (I reckon there is enough yarn in that little ball for its new owner to finish off the scarf if they wanted too!)

I have knitted some embroidery thread on two toothpicks and secured them in place with a couple of stitches, made a simple gathered lace trimmed skirt and small alter neck top to match. One of my own pattern designs, a simple cute creation that will happily sit anywhere as a decorative piece, (especially as I designed it with a flat bottom for that reason) Made from small left over pieces of cotton fabrics from other projects I finished it off with a few little buttons, a lovely multi-green satin bow and added tiny beads to the ends of the knitting needle toothpicks then added a little white fluffy pompom tail – its so cute! 🙂

Complete with fluffy pompom tail!

Complete with fluffy pompom tail! Check it out on  MY Etsy Shop, with more images and details available at,          https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/carenscanvasandcraft

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Handmade decorative animals -Definitely the last of the Bunnies for a while!

27 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by carentaylor in Decorative dolls, Soft animals

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Tags

Art, Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Arty, Beads, Bunnies, Buttons, Caren's canvas and craft, Cotton canvas, Crafty creations, Crazy woman!, Creative crafter, Creative moments, Daisy print cotton, Easter, Easter bonnets, Felt, Fluffy bunny tails, Gingham cotton fabrics, Handmade cotton bunnies, Handmade decorative animals, Lace trims, My Etsy Shop, Origiinal, Original handmade items, Overpopulation of bunnies, Rabbits, Unique craft ideas, unique gift ideas, Wacky weird and wonderful

 

Its another bunny!

Its another bunny! From the front and then the rear…

Then another.........

Then another………

DSCF6512Okay, this is maybe getting a bit weird now, even for me. Its no wonder my children call me ”Crazy Woman!’ And, they are used to my over indulgence on a theme! If you haven’t caught my last couple of posts, you will probably be thankful, for those who have, sorry, promise no more bunnies:-/ I am just going to put the rest of my bunny creations from last week below…and promise no more bunnies for a while! Though I was thinking of making a ”Doorstop Dumpy” bunny…hmm!

But at least I have gone some way to preparing for Easter and the mad bunny rush! They are everywhere, looking at me from inside their little plastic covers…I hope they get new homes soon, I seem to be overrun with them. Good job they are all female, well nearly all, Mr Bunny is definitely fastened in tight with his Mrs bunny and she doesn’t look ”in the right mood”!!!… if you know what I mean?

As a bit of variation I have also started adding some more original artwork and prints, as well as these hand-crafted items to my Etsy shop: Carens canvas and craft,

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/carenscanvasandcraft

(…just a little footnote to those who have been asking about more originals..and there will be more in the future to come!)

(Last of the bunnies – these are giants in comparison to the others!)

Handmade bunnies

Handmade bunnies

”That’s all for now folks!” I’m off routing in my buttons again, I just had a new idea….!

 

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Its bunny time! – Rustic bunnies – Handmade, original and unique decorative soft animals

27 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by carentaylor in Decorative dolls, Soft animals

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Tags

Art, Artistic moment, Arty, Beads, Buttons, Canvas and craft, Caren's canvas and craft, Crafting with canvas, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Decorative bunnies, Easter, Easter bunnies, Easter decoration, Handmade originals, Handsewn, My Etsy Shop, Original, Original ideas, Recycling, Rustic bunnies, Unique handcrafted creations

Rustic bunnies

Rustic bunnies

Not forgetting their bunny tails

Not forgetting their bunny tails

Over the last week or so I have been making things for the Easter Season. As a crafter you really need to be a few steps ahead of upcoming events to have enough stock for craft fairs and the like. So when I get an idea I certainly seem to go full steam ahead, and those who know my site, it means I never can stop at just one, always wanting to explore other possibilities, using different materials. Look out for a couple more bunny posts after this one!

This little pair were my first creations from the pattern I made, which is quite similar to the one I used for my penguins and snow men/women at Christmas time. Using quite a stiff cotton canvas material, which I would normally use when making bags/totes, but as I had a few pieces that were too small for that, they seemed perfect for experimenting. Whilst rummaging through my little scrap pieces looking for some linen to make their clothes, I found a small preprepared patchwork square that had been left over from a previous project, but it was just the perfect colour combination to match the canvas and the felt I had stitched on for their faces. So Mrs. Bunny was sorted! After a bit more routing I found a nice bit of lined to make Mr. Bunny a little jacket, I even inset some shirt sleeves and gave him a matching neckerchief.

Then I noticed it…

…I had trimmed off the salve edge of the linen and when I turned it over it had the words, ‘Made in England’ printed there, too good to pass up as that is where I made them, I thought. Oh my! I was so excited it was perfect to make Mrs Bunny an apron.

After a few finishing touches of adding tiny seed beads for their eyes and stitching little noses I found a few little buttons for their clothing and sowed a little felt base for each of them to stand on. As ever I have handmade and designed these little characters and no too will ever be the same, the little touches of tilting their faces or not making them too perfect all gives them their own character and personalities, which is what I love so much about creating and crafting, always making something original.

Now they have hopped over to My Etsy Shop! Carens canvas and craft in plenty of time to be a seasonal gift or an all year round  pair of decorative bunnies.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/carenscanvasandcraft

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Soft Animals – Penguins in scarves

14 Monday Jan 2013

Posted by carentaylor in Soft animals

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Tags

Aida, Beads, Black and white, Black and white penguin, Black cotton, Creative craft, Cute penguins, Decorative craft, Decorative penguin, Decorative soft animal, Felt, Felt characters, Handmade, Handmade characters, Handmade soft animal, Orange felt, Orange nose, Penguind, Pompoms, Seasonal craft, Seasonal decoration, Snowballs, Tartan scarf, Tartan scarves, Tiny buttons, White aida, Wondering penguins

"Anybody know when the next bus is due?"

“Anybody know when the next bus is due?”

These handmade penguins are made from black cotton for their bodies with a small oval piece of pure white Aida stitched  to the front. Bright orange felt had been used to create noses and flipper feet. Small scrap pieces of tartan act as little scarves with finishing touches of tiny buttons and beads for their eyes, lastly small white pompoms for snowballs. Cheerful, decorative soft animals for seasonal display!

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Patchwork and Beaded ‘Dangles’

04 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by carentaylor in Soft animals

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

'Dangles', Bell, Buttons, Cat 'Dangle', Decorative, Fish 'Dangle', Old buttons, Patchwork 'Dangles', Pig 'Dangle', Recycling Old Buttons, Ring, Soft animal decoration, Wooden beads

 

'Dangles'

‘Dangles’

The idea of using up small pieces of leftover cotton always gets my mind working overtime. Here, I decided to make what I call ‘Dangles’. I drew a small pattern of an animal shape that was recognisable from both sides. Once stitched together I decorated with button eyes and finished off with scraps of ribbon. I then used wooden beads which coordinated and threaded through, adding a bell at the bottom and a ring at the top. Perfect to ‘Dangle’ anywhere for decoration!

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‘Doorstop Dumpy’ – Designed and Handmade Decorative Doorstop

03 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by carentaylor in Decorative dolls, Doorstop Dumpies, Soft animals

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Craft, Crafty creation, Doorstop Dumpy, Doorstop mouse, Dormouse, Handmade, Indoors, Key, Lace, Old buttons, Patchwork, Standard door, Talking point

The Dormouse has the key! 'Doorstop Dumpy'

The Dormouse has the key! ‘Doorstop Dumpy’

The pattern I created for this ‘Doorstop Dumpy’ was more successful than I ever thought it would be when first putting it together. As always it has an inner fabric sack sealed with cat litter inside to give it the weight to hold back a standard door. I think ‘She looks very demure with her her mop cap and lace trimmings. Another creation I like to adorn with old buttons. The spare curtain ring, which has been floating around my house for years, at last gets a new purpose too!

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